Apparel-collar.



Patented Ian. 8,- I90l'.

.c. A. FETTERS.. APPAREL COLLAR. (Application filed Nov. 19, 1898.)

.(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES fAfrnNr OFFICE.

CHARLES ARTHUR FETTERS, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF, AND ADOLPI-I O. STROBEL, OF NORWOOD, OHIO.

APPAREL-COLLAR.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 665,417, dated January 8, 1901.

Application filed November 19, 1898. Serial No. 696,877. (No model.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES ARTHUR FET- TERS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oollars, of which the following is a specification.

It is a matter of common knowledge that the ordinary standing collar is objectionable by reason of difficulty in securing the tie against sliding upwardly and longitudinally and that all ordinary forms of collars are objectionable because of their non-adaptability to conform to variant shapes of neckbands nominally of the same size or number, because of the difficulty in buttoning a stifi collar at the back and front, and because of the tendency of the tie and collar to force the collar-button against the neck of the wearer, thereby producing friction upon the skin, which often results in subcutaneousinflammation. All of these defects have been recognized for many years, and much study, experiment, and inventive skill have been devoted to, and many patents have been granted for, contrivances for obviating them. The efiorts of inventors in this art have been devoted to three lines of workmechanical tie-retainers, tie-retaining additions to the shirt, and improvements in the collar itself. The advantages of making the collar itself a complete tie-retainer adapted for use with any make of shirt and with any common form ofcollar-button are obvious.

The object of my invention is to provide a standing collar adapted to hold the tie against undesired slipping in either direction while being tied or thereafter and yet permit its longitudinal movement at the will of the wearer preparatory to tying, which will conform itself to variations of size of shirt-bands ofthe same nominal size, which can be more easily buttoned at back and front than the ordinary collar, in which the pressure of the collar-button against the neck of the wearer is obviated, and which affords an ease of fit not found in the ordinary collar. Various attempts have been made to accomplish one or more of these results; but so far as I am aware no collar has heretofore been produced capable of performing the combined result, and none of the prior attempts have resulted in any advance in the art, inasmuch as the standing collar of to-day, like that of half a century ago, has no provision for obviating any of the defects above recited. The reason for the non-success of the prior attempts probably lies in the fact that they generally aimed at but one result, and even if the single result was more or less imperfectly accomplished the objectionsdne to expense of man ufacture, liability to tear, difficulty in laundering, and difficulty in applying the tie were more than sufiicient to neutralize any advantages which might result from their use.

My invention is designed to accomplish all the above-recited results; and it consists in the collar hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a View showing in flat form a collar embodying my invention; Fig. 2, an enlarged rear view showing the collar and tie as they would appear when on the shirt, and Fig. 3; a rear view of the collar, showing a modification.

The numeral 1 indicates the collar; 2, the usual end buttonholes; 3, the rear buttonhole; 4 4:, slits on either side of the rear buttonhole extending from the lower edge of the collar upwardly to points above the buttonhole and bounding the side edges of a tie-retaining flap 6, and 7 a necktie.

The collar is made in the usual way, except that before felling and preferably in cutting it to shape the slits are made and the felling continued to include the edges made by the slits.

In use the collar is buttoned to the shirt in the usual manner; but by bending the retaining-flap outward the buttoning at the back is much facilitated, and the flap being free to yield somewhat in the line of the length of the collar makes it much easier to button the ends. The tie is then placed in position under the retaining-flap, which does not grip sufficiently to prevent its being readily drawn in one direction or the other by the wearer to secure the desired position for tying, but prevents its slipping both during the tying operation and when tied unless subjected to abnormal strain. The

rear buttonhole being below the bendingline of the flap neutralizes any weakening in the grip of the flap which might be caused by bending it outward in buttoning and causes it to grip the tie with all the force necessary to prevent the tie from slipping, and the flap being held outwardly by the tie and free to yield relatively to the lower edge of the balance of the collar relieves the neck from the pressure of the collar-button incident to the use of the ordinary collar and tie, by which the collar-button is pressed against the neck.

I have found by experience that a flap extending an inch on each side of the rear buttonhole aifords abundant security against accidental slipping of the tie while being tied or when tied and affords sufficient freedom to permit easy adjustment to position preparatory to tying.

It will be seen that the manufacture of my improved collar requires no machinery other than that ordinarily used in a collar factory and no additional time or expense except the trivial amount of time consumed in making the slits by the slitting-machine and in felling the slits by the sewing-machine, that it presents no difficulties in laundering, and that instead of increasing, the liability to tear it tends to prolong the life of the collar by relieving it from strain.

I claim as my invention- A standing collar slitted from the bottom upwardly, on each side of the rear buttonhole, to form a retaining-flap for the tie, and havingits rearbuttonhole beneath the upper line of the flap whereby the collar-button clamps the flap against the tie and the flap holds the collar-button from contact with the neck, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES ARTHUR FET'IERS.

Witnesses:

JOHN ELIAS J ONES, ADOLPH O. STROBEL. 

